Flying-machine.



G. A. SCHOONMAKER.

FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 24, 19H. 1,020,718. Patented Mar. 19, 1912.

4 SHEETSSLIEET l.

JNVEIVTOR.

A TTORNE).

C. A. SCHOONMAKER.

FLYING MACHINE. V APPLICATION FILED APR.24.1911. 1,020,718. Pitented Mar. 19, 1:112.

WITNESSES X INVENTOR. Q Char/e5 /45c/700/7m0/rer 1% 1 I 1; V A?) [Q]. IFIWEZI/ q ATTORNEY.

C. A. SOHOONMAKER.

FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 24, 1012v 50/? 0 0/7/77 aker m 5 m w H Char/e5 A.

ATTORNEY.

C. A. SUHDONMAKER.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.24.1911.

1,020,718. Patented Ma r.19,19 12 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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ITNESSES: INVENTOR.

W Char/e5 A Sthqan/no/rer V @WW u UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. SCHOONMAKER, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMEN S, 0F ONE-HALF YORIL.

1'0 EDWARD J. RYAN, OF SYRACUSE, NE'W FLYING-MACH INE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 24 1911. Serial No. 622,885.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Cuwanns A. SCIIOUX- MAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and Stateof New York. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in F lying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improven'ients in flying machines, designed for navigating the air, and the invention relates particularly to a flying machine of the heavier-than-air type, known as monoplane, which is propelled by a motor or other like source of power.

The object of the invention is to provide a monoplane which is simple, strong, effective and durable, in which the weight of the frame, motor and aviator are all located below the level of the plane, 1]] position to perfectly balance the machine while in flight, thus obviating the use of side controllers or like devices.

A further object is to provide novel and simple means for steering and controlling the machine.

The various features and parts of the invention will be understood from the detailed description which follows, 'a-nd by reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure l. is a perspective view of the com- .plete machine; showing the same as it appears when in flight. Fig. 2 is a top plan view, with portions of the canvas of the main plane broken away, to show location and arrangement of certain of the working parts of the machine. Fig. 3 is a side elcvation and part section of the machine standing on the ground. Fig. 4. is a vertical cross section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5

is an enlarged detail side view of the seat and mechanisms for operating the head and tail controllers. F ig.-(3 is an enlarged front view of the parts shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of the rear controllers. Fig. 8' -is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of one of the splice-joints.

Similar characters of reference are as signed to corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings, illustrating my. improved aeroplane, 2 and 3 represent like top frame sections or rails, which are preferably frame pieces 2 and 33 extend unbroken from the head to the tail of themachine, and at intervals are rigidly spliced, in the manner shown by the detail view Fig. 9. 5 and 6 represent like bottom frame rails-or parts, also made of laminatdd wood, the opposite ends of these frame parts are bent or inclined upwardly and connect with the frame rails 2 and 3' at T and 7', where suitable metallic clamps or attaching parts 8, and bolts or screws may be employed for securing the parts together. The rails 5 and 6 connect in termediate their ends to the top sections 2 and 3, by means of a series of upright posts or struts 9, 10 and 11, arranged in pairs and which are also preferably constructed of laminated wood. These posts are secured to the frame railsby means of U-shaped 'me-- tallic stirrups or clamps12, which grip the rails," and their ends are perforated to receive bolts or screws 13 for securing them to the posts. (See Fig. 8.) The head or forward ends of the frame sections 2, *3, 5 and 6 are held togetlier by a rod 14, which serves as the pivot. for a rocking elevator plane 15, which is employed for controlling the head of the machine. The struts or posts 9,--10 and 1t are held rigidly in their spaced positions by cross-braces 16, which are preferably made of tubin bent U-sh'aped, and: their ends are secureil to the posts by bolts or screws in the usual manner. The upper ends of each pair of posts are further braced by means of angular pieces of tubing 18, which are rigidly secured to the posts.

-The main plane of the machine consists of an irregular frame 19, also made of laminated '0Otl,l11\"lllg a diamond-shaped central portion 19', and like integral lateral wings 20, 20 all of which are, mounted upon the top frame rails and are secured thereto by suitable metallic clamps, (not shown).

22, 22 represent a series of ribs arranged longittulinally and secured to the top of the frame 19 of the main plane. These ribs are preferably made of laminated woodand bent to-give'a crown or convert eifect to the entire plane, and a sheet or web of canvas 23 is then secured to the tops of the'several ribs. j The lateral wings20, of the plane are tied to the bottom frame sections 5 .and 6, by means of angular bracesor uys 24 and 25,-preferably made of wood 11 c the other parts, and

the main plane is also connected to the head and tail ortions of rails 2 and 3, by brace or guy-wires 26 and 26.

' The-machine-is driven'or propelled by a motor on engine 27, which may be of any suitable construction or make. The motor is mounted upon horizontal timbers or girders 28, which are secured to the posts 10, and also to a pair of inclined braces or shafts 29,

which are supported by the posts 9 and 10. The free ends of the braces 29 project forwardly to a point lower than the bottom of the main frame of the machine, for supportmg a front wheel 30, employed for. trundling the machine over the ground.

31 represents the propeller wheel which is (ferried--- byi -'the motor, and by which the machine' 'isj driven over the round, and also through the air. To provide a suitable pit for-the propeller, whose diameter is greater than the distance between the top and betthese are connected to thecross-timbers 32 by 'inpans'of depending birace-rods 34. To

further stiffen the lower portions of the frame and to hold the rails and 6 from shifting or spreading out of line or position,

f braces 35 and 36-are provided. The former 'e'xtending vertically from said rails to the front wheel shafts 29; the latter arranged at an angle between the said rails and the osts 11, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The owenfiame parts 5 and 6 near their rear ends are tied to the top rails 2 and 3 by braces37, and near their forward ends they are tied to the posts 9 by rods 38. The front wheel supports 29. are braced and made rigid y i by means of rods 39, which extend vert'ca and connect to therails 5 and 6.

The aviatorsits in a swinginghhair or seat 40, positioned directly in front of the motor, and is piyotally supported by upright standards 41, which are mounted upon the bottom rails 5 and 6, and these are braced by angular rods 42. The chair 40 is intcnded to swing only in the direction of-the length of the machine like a pendulum.

43 represents a rockin lever, which is pivotally mounted on the ower cross-brace 16' between the struts 9. This lever comprises. an open frame having a cross-bar44'at its lower end for supporting the aviators feet,

and also to afford means for pedaling'tlle' lever-at certain times, when his. handare otherwise engaged. The -lever 3 -is employed for operating the elevator plane 1:5, for

controlling the head of the-machine, andthrough a cross-bar 48, or by the feet through the pedal bar 44, effects the shifting or tilting of the elevator plane, to and from the several positions, asshown by the full and dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 3, for efi'ect- I ing the elevation or lowering of the head of the machine. The middle position shown by full lines in F ig.' 3 indicates the normalposition of the elevator plane 15 while the machine is sailing through the air. The dotted lines in Fig.3 indicate the positions of the elevator plane for rising or descending. The chalr 40 is also connected to the lever 43 by means ofa jointed rod 49. 'The arrangement of the connection between the chair and lever 43 is such that, the aviator may, whenever desirable or necessary, shift the elevator plane 15, to any of the positions shown, by simply swaying his body and correspondingly tilting the chair. In any event, the chair 40 and the lever 43 always move forward and backward relatively, and in this manner the aviator may control the head of the machine by the weight and movement of his body, thus leavln his hands and feet free for the controllin of other parts of the-machine, or for atten ing to the engine. The engine or motor 27 may be supplied with fuel oil which is carried in a tank 50, which isthung overhead centrally between the top frame sections 2 and 3;

Therear controller for steering the machine comprises a rudder 51, which is arranged vertically, and adapted to be swung laterally in opposite directions for guiding or steering the course of the machine. The rudder is pivotally mounted between tubular braces or standards 52 and 53, which are secured to the rear ends of the top sections2 and 3 of the frame. The rudder is manipulated or shifted in the opposite directions by ropes or wires 54 and 55, which connect to the rudder by means of a crossbar 56. These wires then-extend forwardly alon and between the rails 2and 3, and are hel in place at intervals by pulleys 57, and the forwarglends ofthe wires alre attached tothe cr ss-ba148 carried by the lever '43.

Rocking the cross-bar 48 in opposite directions swings the rudder fromright' to left- 'and'vicc versa.

- vTo further control the rear end of the machine, particularly for maintaining this ortion of the machine" at the proper level" oring flight, I provide a pair of tiltable wings or planes 58, preferablytriangular in plan",

.which are normally held in substantially horizontal position upon the top rails 2 and 3 of the frame, by means of wires orropes 9 aviator releases'the latch 62 carried by the 59, which are connected to the planes, and

then extend forwardly over a number of pulleys 60,.and connect to a depending handlever 61, whichis pivotally disposed between the struts or posts 9, being supported by one of the cross-braces 16. The lever 61 is fitted with a spring-controlled latch or bolt- 62, the upper end of the bolt being arranged sition shown in full lines, to thatishown in As explained/the planes 58am normally held in horizontal'position during the time the machine'is in flight, but when the machine is about to alight on the'ground, the

hand-lever .61, and swings the said lever forwardly (see dotted lines Fig. 5-), which slackens-the wires 59, and allows the planes 1 or wings 58 to tilt upwardly, by the force of the gravitation of the machine, for peranitting the rear end ortail of the machine 30 the head.. Under this arrangement, .when

to approach the ground more rapidly than the machine descends to the ground, the rear wheels 66 and 67 strike the ground first, and then the head of the machine will settle down gently until the front wheel 30 meets the earth. The rear wheels are mounted between and slightly below the cross-timbers 32, and are held tigidly in place by depending braces 68, which are secured to the undersideof said timbers; the wheels being pivoted to the said braces in the usual manner.

' the main plane.

, All of the wooden parts of the machine are laminated, or built upof a'number of thin strips or layers of wood,-as 70 and 71, which are then preferably glued or cemented together, to form stron and stifi",

yet somewhat flexible partsa tig. 9 illustrates the method of constructing the laminated parts, and also'the manner in which the splices are arranged. To prepare the rails for splicing, the strips 70 of one end ofthe rail are cut away at 72, and the strips 71 are cut away at 73, the opposing ends are then brought together, the alternate str'ps interfitting, as shown in Fig. 9. After 1; e"

- ends of the rails are interlocked, they are perforated to receive bolts 74 and 7 5, which also pierce clamping plates 76 for tightly and holding the parts together.

remove the bolts 7 5 which pass through the alternating strips from the-opposing ends of the rail. These splices serve the twofold purpose, of facilitating the construction of a continuous unbroren frame, and also permitting the lmocking-down of the machine for transportation or storing.

The monoplane herein-- shown and described is extremely simple, and all of its parts are constructed and arranged with reference to producing a safe and practical flying machine. Practically the entire weight of" the machine is disposed centrally and below the level of the main' plane, which insures a perfect balancin of the device while in llight, and enables t e'operator to control the machine with greater ease and safety than any other machine of'the class known to me.

The mechanism or means for con-trolling the head and tail of the machine are simple, and th e are all disposed within easy reach of the aviator, who may with but a few movements and slight exertionreadily direct and control the entire machine from his seat, which also is arranged to cooperate for operating" certain of the controlling means. The main plane is disposed directly over the heaviest parts of the device, and

this contributes to the perfect balancing of the whole machine.

frames and ribs of the planes all being constructed of laminated wood, impart to the whole structure of the machine the requisite strength, and at the same time,]each part, as well as the whole skeleton when assembled and roperl joined together, has suflicient flexili buoyant and wieldy, and capable of being safely driven through the air and properly controlled at all times.

Obviously somechanges or modifications may be made in the arts within the scope defined by the appen ed claims, without departing 'from t e spirit of my invention, mild I therefore do not'restrict my 'elf to the "precise construction, arrangement and operation as herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a flying 'machine, a frame comprising top and bottom laminated wooden rails, laminated wooden posts connecting the top and bottom rails, a -main plane mounted on top of the frame having a laminated wooden frame and like wooden Fibs, a pair of laminated wooden braces for connecting the lateral portionsof the said plane to each of the bottom rails, and s lice-joints in said rails and also in the rame of the main plane for rendering said parts sectional.

2. In combination, an elongated open frame comprising top and bottom rails ility to render the machine built-up of laminated wood, and a series of like wooden posts for connecting the middle portionsof said rails, a rigid main plane supported by the top rails. of, the frame, a pair of braces'for connecting the lateral portionsof the plane to 'the ttom rails of the frame, means for control ing the head of the frame,'and a plurality of splice-joints for rendering the top and bottom rails and also the main plane sectional for storing and shipping. p

3. In combination, an elongated frame comprising top and bottom rails, a series of posts for connecting the corresponding top and bottom rails, cross braces for connecting the top, and also, the bottom rails, a

' mam plane mounted upon the top rails of the frame, an elevator plane pivoted to the head of the frame, a pair of tiltable tail planes, all of said planes being normally disposed and held substantially in a common horizontal position, means for manually operating the elevator plane, and means for releasing said tail planes for permitting the automatic tilting. thereof at the end of each flight.

4. In combination, an elongated frame, a l single main plane rigidly mounted uponthe between the head and tailframe midwa thereof, an e evatorplane pivoted to the head of the frame, a pair of oppositely disposed tilting planes mounted on the tail of the frame, all of said planes being normally disposed in a substantially common horizontal plane, means for rocking said elevator plane, means for holding said tilting planes in horizontal position while the machine is in flight, and means for releasing said tilting planes for allowing the tail of the frame to approach the ground in advane e of the head,

5. A'fiying machine, comprising an elongated frame, consisting of parallel top and bottom sect-ions, front andrear Wheels for supporting the fram'eon the ground, a main plane mounted transversely upon the top sections of the frame substantially midway in the length of said sections, an elevator .plane pivotally disposed at the head of the machine at the juncture of the'top and bottom sections, means for operating sateenvator plane, a pair of tiltin tail planes capable of being rigidly held in horizontal position upon-the top sections of the frame Y and rigidly secured thereto, means for propellmg the machine, said means disposed belowthe level of the main plane, an e'le1- vator plane pivoted to the head en -.'of the frame, a rocking seat mounted frame below the level of the main plane adapted for carryingth'e aviator, a lever prvoted to' the frame within reach of the aviatorwhen" sitting in the seat, said lever connected to the elevatorvplane, and also to the seat, adapted to be rocked-forward or backward either by the aviators hands or feet, or by the swaying of his body in the seat, for shifting the elevator plane for controlling 'the head ofthe machine, a pair of triangular planes pivoted nearthe rear end of'the frame, a hand-lever pivoted to the -,frame adjacent the aviators seat, and a wire ten:

necting said rear planes to said hand-lever, whereby ,said planes may be operated for controlling the tail of the machine.

7. A, flying machine consisting of an elongated sectional frame, having like top and like bottom rails, each set of rails arranged substantially parallel to each other, the corresponding top and bottom rails connected directly to'each other at the head and also near the tail of. themachine, a series of struts for holding the middle portions of said rails apart .vertically, a'series of crossbraces for holding-said rails apart horizontally, U-shaped clamps for connecting the struts to the rails of the frame, a main plane mounted at; right angles across the top rails of the frame and rigidly connected thereto, a motor and a propeller-wheel for driving the machine, the motor mounted substantially inthe center of theframe and also centrally ,with the main plane but below the level of the said plan a rocking plane pivoted to the head of the machine, a chair for the aviator,"said chair pivotally mounted on the bottom rails of the frame, said chair connected with the ricking plane and adapted when tilted forward or.ba'ckward to shift the rocking plane for controlling the head of the machine, a" pair of -.tiltable planes for controlling the tail of the machine, and a rudder forsteering thecourse bfth'emachinfl 8. 'In a'flying machine, an elongated frame, 7 comprising "top and bottom laminated wooden rails, laminatedlwooden posts, and tubular l braces,; aifm'ain plan mounted on top of the v frame, having a laminated fwoodeniframe and like wooden ribs, said plane having a relatively large diamond-shaped middle portion" disposed oyer -th'eliniddle of the frame, and

having integral lateral wings projecting at. v

each sldeof the frame, said wings guyed to the bottom rails" laminated wooden braces, 3

a series of spliceoints in the said rails and: also in the frame of the main planefor rendering the" machine sectional for storing and shipping, a controller for the head of the machine, supported by the top and bottom rails, means for operating said controller, a plurality of ,controllers for the tail of the machine, means for operating the tail controllers, and a motor and propeller Wheel .for driving the machine over the ground and through the air.

9. In eombinatiom an elongated frame, a

single main plane mounted on top of the frame at right angles thereto, an elevator plane pivoted to the head of the frame, a pair of tiltable planes mounted on the tail of the frame and normally held in horizontal position While the machine is in flight, and means for releasing. said tiltable planes for allowing the tail of the frame to approach the ground in advance of the head at the close of each flight.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses. a

, CHARLES A. SCHOONMAKER. Witnesses:

NM. C. ANDERSON, HARRY DE VVALLAQE. 

